Package sealing, stamping, and recording machine



Juhe 30, 1925. 1,543,822 W. B. BRONANDER PACKAGE SEALING, STAMPING, AND RECORDING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1924 INVENTOR ATTORNEY if Patented June 30, 1925 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

WILHELM B; BRONANDER, F MCNTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB TO AMERICAN MACHINE & FOUNDRY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PACKAGE SEALING, STAMPING, AND RECORDING MACHINE.

Application filed May 15,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILHELM B. BRON- ANDER, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Montclair, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Package Sealing, Stamping, and Recording Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a package seall ing, stamping, and recording machine which is particularly adaptable foruse in connection with the packaging of cigarettes wherein the packages are sealed by means of a revenue stamp, although it is capable of other uses which are contemplated.

I-Ieretofore, in. the packaging of cigarettes and other tobacco products, it has been necessary to seal a package by means of revenue stamps purchased from the Govermnent and applied by the manufacturer. These stamps are used in immense quantities and the printing of the same is a considerable expense to the Government, while the handling of the same in applying them to the packages is a'still' greater expense to the manufacturer. The main object of the present invention is the production of a machine in which the stamps are printed as and where they are used and without rehandling, thus eliminating the Government cost of printing and greatly reducing to the manufacturer the cost of application.

A further object of the invention is the production of a machine of this character which also records the imprints made, in the same way and by the same means as large users of mail matter now stamp the same with the approval of the Government and without the use of the ordinary postage stamp. \Vith these. and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations which will he hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the "accompanying drawings, which form a part o f'this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts, Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a machine 1924. Serial No. 713,411.

constructed in accordance with the inven tion; and Fig. 2 is a. plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

In. carrying the invention into effect,

there is provided a package sealing, stamp- 1ng and recording machine, comprising means for printing and recording package sealing stamps to take the place of the ordinary revenue stamps, means for gumming said stamps, and means for sealing said packages with the gummy stamps. In the best constructions, there is further provided means for feeding paper to the printing means; means for separating said stamps before application to the packages, the stamps being printed on a long strip of paper drawn from a ,suitable supporting reel; means for presenting packages to said sealing means in succession; and means for ejecting the sealed and stamped packages from ,the sealing means. The above mentioned means and devices may be widely varied'in construction within the scope of the claims, for the particular structure selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible concrete embodiments of the same. The invention therefore is not to be restricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described.

The machine selected to illustrate the invention is provided with means for printing and recording package sealing stamps designed to take the place of the ordinary internal revenue stamp, such as those applied to packages of cigarettesand other tobacco products. As shown, this printing means includes a recording printing device 3, which is well known and therefore merely conventionally shown in the drawings. This recording printing device is of the same kind as that used in the stamping of mail matter instead of. applying postage stamps thereto. The machine is further provided with means for intermittently operating said device and, as shown, this means includes a coacting continuously rotating interrupted wheel I for inte'rmit tently operating said device. The wheel 4 is located'under the printing device 3 and is fast on a'short drive shaft 5 driven by 100 suitable source of able means which is 14 adjacent the a chain 6 from a shaft 7, which is the main shaft of the machine and supported in suitable bearings 8 carried by the machine frame. The shaft 7 is driven from any motion by any suitwell known but not shown. The recording printin device 3 is provided with the usua printing wheel 9 and is operated intermittently by t-he'high part of the interrupted wheel 4 when the latter pinches a strip of paper between its own periphery and that of the wheel 9.

The paper used for the stamps or seals comes to the machine in the form of a long strip coiled on a reel 10 supported on a shaft 11, this shaft being driven by means of a sprocket chain 12 connecting it with the main shaft 7 before referred to.

Means are provided for feeding the paper to the printing means, although in some cases this may be done by hand. When it is done automatically, however, the feeding means includes two members having traveling surfaces acting on opposite sides of the paper, and in the structure shown these members consist in a turret 13 and an idler periphery of said turret,

tween the printing device wheel 9 and the interrupted wheel 4, and then down between the turret 13 and idler 14, the strip being pinchedbetween the peripheries of these two elements. It will be remembered that the reel is driven continuously. The turret 13, however, is rotated intermittently for purposes to be hereinafter described. The 1ntermittent rotation of the turret 13 is produced b a ratchet 15 attached thereto, said ratchet eing engaged by a pawl 16, pivoted at 17 to the outer ends of a radius arm 18 and to one end of an eccentric rod 19 0 erated by an eccentric 20 from the she; t 7 before referred to. During the intermittent rotation of the turret 13, step by step, the slack in the paper strip S, which 1s produced by the continuous rotation of the reel 10, is taken up as the strip passes the printing device. For the purpose of holding the strip of paper on the periphery of the turret during its travel from the idler 14 to the position in which it is applied as a seal.

to a package, suction devices are provided. These devices consist 1n a series of apertures 21 arranged around the periphery of the .munication with a pipe 27, which in turn individual stamp is incommunication with a suitable suction producing apparatus, not shown. During the movement of any one of the apertures 21 from a position just above the idler 14 to a position just beyond 180 degrees therefrom, the suction is on and holds the paper against the periphery of the turret; but from the latter position to the former, over the top of the turret where there is no paper, the suction is off.

Means are provided for gumming the,

printed stamps while the paper is held in outstretched condition on the periphery of the turret 13 by the suction devices carried therein, and while they are in'transit to the position Where they are applied to packages. While gummed paper might be used in the machine and the gum thereon softened by the application of water thereto to make the stamp gummy before application to the package; as shown, the paper comes to the machine and is printed before any gum is applied thereto. While the paper is stretched on the periphery of the turret 13, wet gum or paste is applied to the paper by means of a gumming wheel 28 dipping in a fountain 29 and in rolling contact with thilpaper on the periphery of the turret 13. eans are provided for separating the stamps from the strip before application to the packages. In the machine shown, this is done just after the gumming operation; and the separating means includes, as a support for the stamps, the peripheral portion of the turret 13 and a co-acting shear- 7 ing device, the latter consisting .of a shearing knife 30 mounted on an arm 31 'oscil lating on a fulcrum 32 and oscillated by means of a link 33 which connects it with a. cam lever 34 fulcrumed at-35'and carrying a cam bowl 36 riding on the periphe 'of a cam 37. This cam is fast on a sha 38 driven b means of a sprocket chain 39 from the shat 7 before referred to. The cam bowl'36 is held in contact with the periphery of the cam 37 by the action of a. spring 40, one end of which is connected to apin 41 carried by the lever 34, the other end being connected to a boss 42 on the bracket 43 supporting the gum fountain 39 and also the fulcrum 35. The knife 30 successively coacts with a series of slots 44 cut radially in the periphery of the turret 13 and across which the paper strip lies prior to the shearing action. At the proper time and while theturret is at rest, the knife 30 ismoved up into one of the slot 44, thus shearing the paper strip and se therefrom. eans are provided for seahng packages with the gummy stamps and as shown, this means includes means for folding the stamps over one end of the packages. With this end in view, channels are provided having oppositely disposed walls for folding a stamp arating an to this time, has been held spanning saidpocket by the turret suction device. As the package'moves through the pockets 45,-the

opposite ends of the stamp are folded down upon opposite sides of the package and the gum on the stamp causes the latter to stick to the ends of the package and to the op= posite adjacent sides thereof.

The sealing means further includes a pair of oppositely disposedbrushes 47 supported by a bracket 48. Thesebrushes are positioned within the turret in line with the pocket through which the packages are pushed; and as the package moves inwardly through the pocket 45, it moves to and between the brushes 47 which press down the ends of the stamp on the opposite sides of the package.

While packages' may be pushed by hand through the pockets 45, or other channels in certain other constructions, means for preznting packages to :said sealing means is,

provided, and this means includes a source of package supply and means forsuccessively transferring packages from said source of supply to said sealing means.

in the form of a verticalmagazine 49 supportedby a standard 50 and adapted to contain a stack of packages to be sealed. For

the purpose of successively transferring packages from the bottom of the stack to the sealing means, there is provided a plunger 51 connected, by means of a link 52, to a lever 53 which is pivoted at 54 to one end of a connecting rod '55, the other end of this connecting rod being connected to a crank 56 on'the face of the cam 37 before referred to. It will be understood that this plunger comes into action while the turret is at rest with one of the pockets 45 in alignment with the lowermost package in the stack.

Means are (provided for ejectingthe sealed and stampe packages from the sealing means; that is to say, from! the position they occupy between the brushes 47-47 Where the sealing operation is completed. As

shown, this ejecting means includes an eject- 1ng plunger 57 connected by means of a link 58 .to a cam lever 59 having a bowl 60 tracking in a cam track 61 formed in the periphery of'a camdruni 62 fast on the-shaft 7 be fore referred to. The ejecting plunger 57 moves in the same horizontal plane asthe package presentmg plunger 51, butat right In the ma-- chine shown, the source of package supply is angles thereto, pushing the'sealed, stamped and recorded package out through the end of the turret on a tray 63 along which the finished packages are moved intermittently by each operation of the ejecting plunger 57 In view of the foregoing, adetailed description of the device is deemed to be unnecessary and is therefore omitted in the interest of'brevity. It may be stated, however, that the machine herein described produces and records the stamps and records the number of packages made, without cost to the Government, without rehandling cost, and at a materially lessened stamp application cost.

' What is claimed is:

1. A package sealing, stamping, and re-' cording machine, comprising means for printing and recording package sealing stamps, means for gumming said stamps, and means for seallng revenue packages with the gummy stamps.

2. A package sealing, stamping, and re-.

cording machine, comprising means vfor printing and recording package sealing stamps, means for gumming said stamps, means for sealing revenue packages with the gummy stamps, and means for feeding paper to said printing means.

, 3. A package sealing, stamping, and recording machine, comprising means for printing and recording package sealing revenue stamps, means for gumming said stamps, means for sealing packages with the gummy stamps, and means for separating e 4. A package sealing, stamping, and recording machine, comprising means for printing and recording package sealing revenue stamps, means for gumming said stamps, means for sealing packages with the gummy stamps, and means for presenting :packages to said sealing means.

5. A package sealing, stamping, and recording machine, comprising means for pr nting and recording package sealing revenuestamps, means for gumming said stamps, means for sealing packages with the gummy stamps, and means for ejecting the sealed and stamped packages from said sealing m eans.

cording machine, comprising means for printing and recording package seallng revenue stamps, means for gumming said said stamps before application to the pack- 6. A package sealing, stamping, and re-- stamps, means for sealing packages with the gummystam'ps, means for feeding paper to said printing means, means for se arating said stamps before application to t e pack ages, means for presenting packa es to said sealing'means, and means for ejecting. the sealed and stamped packages from said Tsealing means.

7. A package sealing, stamping, and restamps, and means for sealing packages with the gummy stamps, said printing means including a recording printing device, and means for intermittently operating said device.

8. A package sealing, stamping, and re cording machine, comprising means for printing and recording package sealing revenue stamps, means for gumming said stamps, and means for sealing packages with the gummy stamps, said printing means mcluding a recording printing device, and

- a coacting continuously-rotating interrupted wheel for intermittently operating said device.

9. A package sealing, stamping, and recording machine, comprising means for printing and recording package sealing revenue stamps, means for gumming said stamps, and means for sealing packages with the gummy stamps, said gumming means including means for holding the stamps in outstretched condition, and means for gumming the stamps so disposed.

10. 'A package sealing, stamping, and recording machine, comprising means for printing and recording package sealing revenue stamps, means for gumming said stamps, and means for sealing with the gummy stamps,

said gumming means including means for forwarding the stamps in outstretched condition, and means for gumming the stamps during transit.

11. A package sealing, stamping, and re-. cording machine, printing and recording package sealing revenue stamps, means for gumming said stamps, and means for sealing packages with the gummy stamps, said gumming means in; cluding a turret for forwarding the stamps in outstretched condition and a wheel coacting with said turret, for gumming the stamps forwarded thereby.

12. A package sealing, stamping, and recording machine, comprising means for printing and recording package sealing revenue stamps, means for gumming said stamps, and means for sealing packages with the gummy stamps, said gumming means including a suction device for holding the stamps in outstretched copdition and means for gumming the stamps so disposed.

13. A package sealing, stamping, and recording machine, comprising means for printing and recording package sealing revenue stamps, means for gumming said stamps, and means for sealing packages with the gummy stamps, said sealingmeans including means forfolding the stamps over one end of the packages.

' 14 A package sealing, stamping, and record mg machine, comprising means for packages comprising means for printing and recording package sealing revenue stamps, means for gumming said stamps, and means for sealing packages with the gummy stamps, said sealing means including a channel having oppositely disposed walls for folding a stamp over one end of a package moved through said channel, I

15. A package sealing, stamping, and recording machine, comprising means for printing and recording package sealing revenue stamps, means for gumming said stamps, and means for sealing packages with the gummy stamps, said sealing means including a channel having oppositely disposed walls for folding a stamp over one end of a package moved through said channel, and means for moving the package through said channel.

16. A package sealing, stamping, .and recording machine,. comprising means for printing and recording package sealing revenue stamps, means for gumming said stamps, and means for sealing packages with the gummy stamps, said sealing means including a turretprovided with a plurality of radial pockets having oppositely disposed walls for folding stamps over one end of packages, and means. for successively moving packages through said pockets. 17. A package sealing, stamping, and recording machine, comprising means for printing and recording package sealing revenue stamps, means forv gumming said stamps, and means for sealing packages with the gummy stamps, said sealing means in-. cluding a turret provided with a plurality of radial pockets having oppositely disposed walls for folding stamps over one end of packages, and acrank-actuated plunger for successively moving packages through said pockets. 1

18. A package sealing, stamping, and recording machine, comprising means for printing and recording package sealing. rev enue stamps, means for gumming said stamps, and means for sealing packages with the gummy stamps, said sealing means including a channel having oppositely disposed walls for folding a stamp over one. end of a package moved through said channel, and a pair of oppositely disposed brushes beyond said channel for pressing the ends of the stamp on the package.

19. A packagesealing, stamping, and rethe packages, and means for successively.

moving packages through said pockets to and between said brushes.

. 20. A package sealing, stamping, and reprinting and recording pac age sealing revenue stamps, means for gumming said stamps, means for sealing packages with the gummy stamps, and feeding means includi two members having traveling surfaces acting on opposite sides of the pa er, one of said members being provided w th suction devices for holding the paper thereto.

22. A package sealing, stamping, and recording machine, comprising .means for printing and recording package sealing revenue stamps, means for gummm said stamps, means for seal-ing packages with the gummy stamps, and feeding means including two members having traveling surfaces acting o-n opposite sides of the paper, and

1roneans for intermittently moving said memers.

23. A package sealing, stamp-ing, and recording machme, comprising means for printing and recording package sealing revenue stamps, means for gumming said stamps, means for sealing packages with the gummy stamps, and feeding means includ ing two members having traveling surfaces acting on opposite sides of the paper, and a pawl" and ratchet mechanism for intermittently moving said members. r 24.v A package sealing, stamping, and recording machine, comprising means for printing and recording package sealing revenue stamps, meansfor gumming said stamps, means for sealing packages with the gummy stamps, and separating means including'a support for the stamps and a coacting shearing device.

25. A package sealing, stamping, and recording machine, comprising means for printing and recording package sealing revenue stamps, means for gummin said stamps, means for sealing packages with the gummy stamps, and separating means including a suction sup-port for the stamps and a coacting shearing device.

26. A package sealing, stamplng, and recording machine, comprising means for printing and recording package sealing revenue stamps, means for said stamps, means for sealing packages with the gummy stamps, and separating means inclu dg ng a support for the stamps and a coacting cam-actuated oscillatory shearing knife.

27. A package seal-ing, stamping, and recording machine, comprising means for printing and recording package sealing revenue stamps, means for ming said stamps, means for sealing pac ages with the gummy stamps, and presenting means including a source of package supply and means for successively transferring packages from said source of supply to said seal- 111g means. i

28. A package sealing, stamp-ing, and recording machine, comprising means for printing and recording package sealing revenue stamps, means for mining said stamps, means for sealing pac ages with the gummy stamps, and presenting means including a vertical magazine for holding a stack of packages, and means for successively transferring packages from the bottom of the stack to said sealing means.

29. A package sealing, stamping and recording machine, comprising means for printing and recording package sealing revenue stamps, means for gumming said.

stamps, means for sealing packages with the gummy stamps, and presenting means including a source of package supply and a crank-actuated plunger for SUCCGSSIVGly" transferring packages from said source of supply to said sealin means.

30. A package sea ing, stamping and recording machlne, comprising means for printing and recording package sealing revenue stamps, means for mming said stamps, means for sealing pac ages w th the gummy stamps, and ejecting means including a cam-actuated plunger coactingwith said sealing means.

31. A package sealing, stamping and recording machine, comprising means for printing and recording package sealing revenue stamps, means for gumming said stamps, means for sealing packages w1th the gummy stamps, and ejecting means including an intermittently operating plunger coacting with said sealing means.

32. A package sealing, stamping, and recording machine, comprising means for printing and recording package sealing reven e stamps, means for gumming said stamps, means for sealing packages with the gummy stamps, means for presenting packages to said sealing means in one direction, and means for ejecting'packages from said sealin means in another direction.

33. cording machine, comprising means for printing and recording package sealing revenue stamps, means for gaming said stamps, means for sealing pac ges with the gummy stamps, means for. presenting packages to said sealing means in one direction,

package sealing, stamping, and reand means for ejecting packages from said sealing means in the same horizontal plane but at right angles to the direction of presentation.

34. A package sealing, stamping, and recording machine, comprising means for printing and recording package sealing revenue stamps, means for gumming said stamps, means for sealing packages with the gummy stamps, a crank-actuated plunger for presenting packages to said sealing means in one direction, and a cam-actuated plunger for ejecting packages from said sealing means in the same horizontal plane but at right angles to the direction of presentation.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

WILHELM B. BRONAJNDER. 

